22 cows and buffaloes die of foot and mouth disease

A total of 22 cows and buffaloes have died of foot and mouth disease in Erode district and 75 more have been struck by it over the past few days, according a top official of the animal husbandry department.

P Vanangamudi, joint director of animal husbandry department told reporters that the present outbreak was due to arrival of diseased cattle from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka to the district.

The cattle had also been affected with 'Hemorrhagic Septicemia' which usually leads to their death within two days, he said.

He said farmers in many villages do not allow veterinary doctors to provide preventive vaccination, but that department officials and doctors are convincing them to do so.

He said three lakh head of cattle had already been vaccinated in the district.

Vanagamundi said department officials and vets would go to all villages and provide the vaccinations, after which farmers would be given Green Cards. Those who did not want cattle to be vaccinated would have to give it in writing, he said.